Who paid for officers who worked at floor covering sale?

Q: I would like to know who paid and how much was paid for the two officers and patrol cars to be parked in the median at Kemps Flooring for the duration of his floor covering sale. I have been around Huntsville since 1968 and have never seen this done for any business.

A: Kemps Flooring footed the bill for overtime pay for the two officers stationed outside the business during the sale, said Huntsville police spokesman Sgt. Mark Roberts.

Any business that obtains the proper insurance can request an off-duty officer for traffic or security, Roberts said. The cost is $25 an hour per officer, and officers who volunteer for those jobs put in the hours on top of their regular work week.

The most common customers are churches on busy roads that need the extra traffic control on Sunday mornings, Roberts said, but many restaurants – like McDonald’s and T.G.I. Friday’s – frequently request officers as well.

“They want to ensure the safety of their customers and the drivers passing by the business,” Roberts said. “We’re happy to provide that extra service.” – Niki Doyle

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